Orange is a city on the western edge of the Central Tablelands region in New South Wales, Australia. It is west of the state capital, Sydney [ on a great circle], at an altitude of . Orange had an urban population of 41,920 at the 2021 Census, making the city a significant regional centre. A significant nearby landmark is Mount Canobolas with a peak elevation of and commanding views of the district. Orange is situated within the traditional lands of the Wiradyuri Nation.
Orange was the birthplace of poets Banjo Paterson and Kenneth Slessor, although Paterson lived in Orange for only a short time as an infant. Walter W. Stone, book publisher (Wentworth Books) and passionate supporter of Australian literature, was also born in Orange. The first Australian Touring Car Championship, known today as the Supercars Championship, was held at the Gnoo Blas Motor Racing Circuit in 1960.
History
The Orange region is the traditional land of the Wiradjuri people. Known as the people of the three rivers, the Wiradjuri people have inhabited New South Wales for at least 60,000 years.
In 1822 Captain Percy Simpson arrived in the Wellington District and established a convict settlement which was called "Blackman's Swamp" after James Blackman; Simpson had employed James Blackman as a guide because he had already accompanied an earlier explorer, John Oxley into that region.
In the late 1821s, the surveyor J. B. Richards worked on a survey of the Macquarie River below Bathurst and also of the road to Wellington. On a plan dated around the early 1830s or late 1820s, he indicated a village reserve, in the parish of Orange. Sir Thomas Mitchell named the parish Orange, as he had been an associate of the Prince of Orange in the Peninsular War, when both were aides-de-camp to the Duke of Wellington, whose title was bestowed on the valley to the west by Oxley.
Initial occupation by graziers began in late 1829, and tiny settlements eventually turned into larger towns as properties came into connection with the road. In 1844, the surveyor Davidson was sent to check on encroachments onto the land reserved for a village, and to advise on the location for a township. His choices were Frederick's Valley, Pretty Plains, or Blackman's Swamp.
Blackman's Swamp was chosen, and it was proclaimed a village and named Orange by Major Thomas Mitchell in 1846 in honour of Prince William of Orange. At nearby Ophir, a significant gold find in Australia was made in 1851, resulting in a sporadic population movement which is known as the Australian gold rush. Additional gold finds in nearby areas led to the establishment of Orange as a central trading centre for the gold.
The growth of Orange continued as the conditions were well suited for agriculture, and in 1860 it was proclaimed a municipality. The railway from Sydney reached Orange in 1877. In 1946, 100 years after it was first being established as a village, Orange was proclaimed as a minor city.
Orange was proposed as a site for Australia's national capital city, prior to the selection of Canberra. The new capital city would have adjoined the town of Orange, which would have been included in the surrounding federal territory.
Geography and Climate
Owing to its altitude, Orange has a temperate oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb), with warm summers (though with cool mornings) and cold, wet winters with frequent morning frosts. The city is relatively wet for an inland location owing to the orographic lifting brought on by Mount Canobolas, especially during the cooler months when snow falls; Orange is the snowiest major city in Australia.
Compared with most population centres in Australia it has colder winters, especially in terms of its daytime maximum temperatures, owing to its elevation and westerly exposure. In summer, the average (and absolute) maximum temperatures are also lower than in most inland centres. Humidity is low in the summer months with the afternoon dew point typically around . The city features 99.8 clear days annually, with the majority of sunshine in the summer months, in sharp contrast to Sydney which has more sunshine in winter due to the foehn effect.
The climate has enabled the area to be a major apple and pear producer, and a centre for cool-weather wine production.
Economy
Orange is a well-known fruit growing district, and produces apples, pears, and many stone fruits such as cherries, peaches, apricots, and plums; oranges are not grown in the area, since its climate is too cool. In recent years, a large number of vineyards have been planted in the area for rapidly expanding wine production. The growth of this wine industry, coupled with the further development of Orange as a gourmet food capital, has ensured Orange's status as a prominent tourism destination.
Other large industries include: Cadia gold mine is a large open cut gold and copper mine located about 20 kilometres south of Orange. The mine has been developed throughout the 1990s and is a major employer in the region with an expected lifespan of several decades. Cadia is the second largest open-cut mine in Australia, following the Super Pit at Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. Large mineral deposits are also being uncovered from the more recently developed Ridgeway underground mine which is adjacent to the Cadia Mine. An Electrolux white goods factory, closed in 2017. Orange is also the location of the headquarters of the New South Wales Department of Industry (Department of Industry, Skills and Regional Development, the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries).
Education
Primary and public schools
St Mary's Catholic Primary School Orange Public School, opened 1880 Orange East Public School Calare Public School Orange Christian School Kinross Wolaroi School (Pre Prep-Senior School) Bletchington Primary School Anson Street Public School Glenroi Heights Public School Bowen Public School Canobolas Public School Clergate Public School Catherine McAuley Catholic Orange Anglican Grammar School
The following primary schools are not within the city limits of Orange but are located within the rural fringe of Orange:
Spring Hill Public School Nashdale Primary School Spring Terrace Public School Borenore Public School Clergate Public School Mullion Creek Public School
Secondary schools
Orange High School James Sheahan Catholic High School Canobolas Rural Technology High School Orange Christian School (K–12) Kinross Wolaroi School (Pre Prep-Senior School) Orange Anglican Grammar School (K–12) MET School Orange Campus (3–12) De La Salle College (Closed in 1977)
Tertiary education
A campus of Charles Sturt University is located on the outskirts of northern Orange. A large campus of TAFE is also located in Orange.
Churches
St Joseph's and St Mary's Catholic Churches Holy Trinity Anglican Church St Barnabas Anglican Church Orange Uniting Churches Orange Baptist Church Orange Presbyterian Church St Peter's Lutheran Church New Life City Church Orange Evangelical Church Orange Christian Assembly Mountain Hope Church Salvation Army Orange Seventh-day Adventist Church Orange Church of Christ Slavic Pentecostal Church The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Open Heavens Church
Suburbs and Localities
The following are listed as the suburbs within Orange City Council, according to the New South Wales Division of Local Government:
Ammerdown: a residential locality to the north west of Orange on the Mitchell Highway. Bletchington: containing mostly residential areas with one school, it is one of the largest residential areas, and it is often split into North Orange and Bletchington. Within the suburb are the Orange Botanic Gardens, the Orange Adventure Playground, and the Waratah Sports Ground. Bloomfield: containing farmland, Bloomfield Golf Course, Riverside Mental Institution and Orange Health Service (a major regional hospital) along with the Gosling Creek Reservoir and the Gosling Creek nature reserve. Borenore: a locality, west of Orange, comprising primarily farmland. Also the site of the Australian National Field Days. Bowen: containing residential, predominantly public housing, industrial, commercial, Kinross Woloroi School, and government offices, this suburb also has the main road out of Orange to Sydney. It also contains the Orange Showground and the Orange Cemetery. Calare: the suburb is located to the west of the CBD. It is mostly a residential area, and contains Calare Public School and Orange High School, and Wentworth Golf Course. It is also commonly split into Calare, Bel-Air and Wentworth Estate and has The Quarry and Towac Park Racecourse. It houses most new areas of Orange Canobolas: this mainly farming and recreation area, contains the Mount Canobolas State recreation area and Mount Canobolas. Clifton Grove: containing farmland and large residential blocks, some parts of the estate are down stream from the Suma Park Reservoir and the area also contains the Kinross State Forest. Clover Hill: a residential suburb to the north of the CBD. Glenroi: a mainly residential area with areas of public housing, along with the (now defunct) Electrolux white goods manufacturing plant. It also contains industrial land in areas surrounding the factory, as well as a more recent industrial area known as Leewood Estate. Huntley: a locality south of Orange. Lucknow: a small village approximately east of Orange. It is a historic mining town with small residential, small industrial and commercial with most being farmland. March: a locality north of Orange. Millthorpe: a village south east of Orange. The area constituting a suburb of Orange is constituted of farmland lying to the northwest of the village. Narrambla: a mainly industrial and farming land area. Nashdale:a community located approximately 8 kilometres west of Orange. The community gathers around the local Nashdale Public School and hall. Orange: the suburb comprises the central business district of the city, which contains an original grid street plan. The main street of Orange is Summer Street. The CBD can be defined as being the area of the city bounded by Hill, March, Peisley, and Moulder Streets. Orange East: beginning on the eastern side of the railway line, Orange East is mostly residential, but contains some light businesses, especially on Summer, Byng, and William Streets. Orange South: directly to the south of the CBD, beginning past Moulder Street this area contains Wade Park and the Orange Base Hospital. Shadforth: a locality to the east of Orange bypassed by the Mitchell Highway that contains Shadforth Quarry. Spring Hill: a village to the southeast of Orange. Spring Terrace: a locality and small village located south of Orange, centred on the local primary school. Springside: a rural locality to the south of Orange. Suma Park: a lightly populated residential area on the eastern outskirts of Orange. It contains Suma Park Reservoir, Orange's main water supply. Summer Hill: a lightly populated residential, industrial, and farmland area on the south eastern outskirts of Orange on the Mitchell Highway. Warrendine: a mostly residential area and contains James Sheahan Catholic High School and industrial land. It also has small school farmland and Jack Brabham Park.
Population According to ABS data, there were 42,977 people in the city of Orange as of June 2024. When including surrounding towns and villages, the city supports a population of well over 100,000 through its industrial, commercial, and service resources. According to the 2021 Census: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 7.7% of the population. 89.3% of people were born in Australia. The next most common countries of birth were United Kingdom 846, India 502, New Zealand 414, Philippines 312 and Nepal 233. 87.1% of people only spoke English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Malayalam 0.7%, Nepali 0.6%, Mandarin 0.4%, and Tagalog 0.3%.